5 Rockets Fired At Guest House

May 5, 1986|The New York Times

TOKYO — Penetrating the extraordinary security surrounding the economic summit meeting, attackers Sunday fired five homemade rockets at the state guest house during welcoming ceremonies there for the leaders of the industrial nations meeting in Tokyo.

The rockets, which traveled more than two miles, overshot their mark, the Akasaka Palace, landing on the street and on buildings near the Canadian Embassy, just south of the palace grounds.

No one was hurt, but several strollers near the embassy said they had barely missed being struck by falling projectiles.

The salvo of primitive missiles passed overhead only minutes after President Francois Mitterrand had been greeted by the Japanese prime minister, Yasuhiro Nakasone, in an outdoor red-carpet ceremony in front of the main steps of the neo-Baroque palace and about 15 minutes before President Reagan received his formal welcome at the same spot.

Asked Sunday night at a reception at the prime minister`s residence whether he was concerned about the rocket attacks, Reagan replied, ``No, they missed.``

Although no one took responsibility, the assault resembled recent attacks launched against the United States Embassy, the Imperial Palace and other targets by Japanese left-wing extremists who had pledged to ``blow up`` the summit conference.